Synlett 2010(11): 1704-1708  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1219955
CLUSTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Conjugate Additions of Oxindoles and Benzofuranones to Cyclic Enones

Fabio Pesciaiolia, Xu Tianb, Giorgio Bencivennia, Giuseppe Bartolia, Paolo Melchiorre*b,c
a Dipartimento di Chimica Organica ‘A. Mangini’, Università di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
b ICIQ, Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Av. Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
c ICREA, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
e-Mail: pmelchiorre@iciq.es;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 31 March 2010
Publication Date:
01 June 2010 (online)

Zoom Image

Abstract

The asymmetric catalytic synthesis of densely functionalized molecules that contain vicinal quaternary and tertiary stereocenters is a challenge for modern chemical methodology. Here we show that a chiral primary amine, derived from natural molecules, efficiently catalyzes the stereoselective conjugate addition of oxindoles to cyclic enones, leading directly to valuable chiral scaffolds. Proof-of-concept for extending the method to benzofuranone derivatives is also provided.